Book Review: You Suck, A Love Story

I picked up this book by Christopher Moore solely based on the title. You have to check that out. I skimmed the back cover (I've been suspicious of them since one gave away a major plot twist), and did my favorite new author test, read the first page. The book starts with "You bitch, you killed me! You suck!" which is the totally understandable reaction of Tommy, a 19-year-old dorky small town guy who after moving to San Fransisco and meeting and falling for a vampire girl awakes to find that she's turned him into one of the undead as well. By the end of the first page, I was hooked.

I chuckled all through this clever, entertaining not-at-all scary novel about these two inexperienced vampires as they attempt both the mundane (apartment hunting, keeping in touch with parents) and the supernatural (finding food sources, learning the limits of their powers, etc.) Along the way, they acquire a naive 16-year-old Goth girl "minion" adding her point of view to the narrative, and interact with a blue hooker, a homeless man with a huge cat, Tommy's former friends who are now vampire hunters and two homicide cops and more.

The story unfolds so beautifully that I don't want to give anything away, but I do want to mention that this book has possibly the best ending to any vampire book ever.

4 1/2 stars of out 5, just because I wish it had been a little longer, even though it didn't need to be.

The Heartbreak Kid

Here's my warning; if you hate Ben Stiller, you will hate this movie. Do not go. Do not even bother to read this review.

Still with me? Right, then.

Ben Stiller is a 40 year old bachelor who's never been able to pull the trigger on any of his romances, including a 5 year engagement. On his way home from his ex-fiance's wedding, he meets a beautiful younger woman. She later tracks him down at the store he owns and their romance blossoms, in a funny way. She's going to be moved to Rotterdam for work because she's single, and after debate he decides they should get married. So they do. And it all goes downhill from there.

Jerry Stiller, Ben's real-life dad, plays his father in the movie , and Rob Corddry plays his best friend. They are both hilarious. The movie is filled with laugh-out-loud scenes, and quieter scenes that also make you laugh uproariously. It's really very, very funny. And of course uncomfortable, because Stiller is known for his movies where the guy acts like a complete idiot, complicating a difficult situation even more so.

There is a love interest, of course, and in the beginning I was rooting for Stiller's boy-man Eddie. But by the end, I just wanted to smack him, although I doubt that would do any good, as he gets his share of beatings and they deter him none.

There was a bit of press about the rating of this movie, and the much-heralded return of the adult comedy. I have to say the film earned it's R rating, and it's most definitely a movie for grown-ups. I wouldn't take even an older teenager to this movie. And if you're looking for a moral, you won't find it here.

In short, a hilarious yet uncomfortable movie with no neat, tidy ending.